Greenville County SC Detention Center

Greenville County SC Detention Center basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 864-467-2330

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Greenville County SC Detention Center is a medium-security detention center located at 20 McGee St Greenville, SC which is operated locally by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Greenville County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Greenville Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

You may communicate with inmates via the US Mail. Because of safety and security issues; the Detention Center has contracted with Smart Communications to develop a safer and more efficient method for delivering inmate personal mail. All personal inmate mail is received at an offsite location and is scanned into a vendor-supported electronic system. The mail will then be made available, for viewing by inmates, on the housing unit kiosks through their individual accounts. The types of acceptable correspondences include postcards, letters, and greeting cards. No photographs will be accepted through the postal mail. All verified legal mail, money orders, bank statements mailed directly from a financial institution and publications will continue to be sent directly to the Detention Center. All legal mail is opened in the presence of the inmate and checked for contraband prior to the inmate receiving it. Upon release inmates may login into the Smart Communications public website at https://www.smartjail.com/, enter their inmate number and password and download their Postal Mail at no cost.

Providing or attempting to provide contraband, (as defined by SC Law #24-13-150), to an inmate is a felony and violators will be prosecuted. These incidents will also be reported to a US Postal Inspector for review.

The Detention Center does not censor or inspect outgoing mail prior to the mail being transferred to the U.S. Postal Service and does not accept responsibility for the contents of outgoing mail.

Newspapers, magazines, and paperback books, are not allowed with:

1. Information regarding the manufacture of explosives, weapons, and ammunition.
2. Maps, methods of escape from correctional and jail facilities, or blueprints, drawings or similar descriptions.
3. Procedures for the brewing of alcoholic beverages or the manufacture of drugs.
4. Information, codes or symbols associated with gang activity.
5. Materials that advocate racial, religious, or national hatred.
6. Encouragement or instructions in the commission of criminal activity. Gang-related materials are strictly prohibited.
7. Sexually explicit material such as writings, drawings, photographs, and images, which by its nature poses a threat to the security, good order or discipline of the facility, or which facilitates criminal activity.
8. Nude or sexually suggestive photographs, drawings, and images.
9. Content intended to encourage or assist in disrupting the orderly operation of the facility, such as through a criminal act, riot, work stoppage or other breech of facility rules.
10. Musical/audible greeting cards, pre-paid phone cards, plain or stamped envelopes, plain paper, postage stamps, carbon paper, and any other writing materials.
11. Items to eat, drink, or smoke, any appliances, and any hygiene items.

Inmates are permitted subscription issues of newspapers, paperback books and magazines mailed directly from the publisher, clearing houses, and book distributors. No hard cover books are allowed.

Inmates may receive funds through the U.S. Mail but only in the form of U.S. Postal and Western Union money orders made payable to the Detention Center, in care of the inmate, are accepted for deposit. We do not accept cash through the mail for deposit. Any cash received will be placed in an inmate's personal property and will not be credited to the inmate's account or returned to the sender. For other forms of deposit, please refer to our Money Deposits page.

Acceptable paperback books and magazines may be donated to the Detention Center at the Reception Control window (Public Lobby), 20 McGee St. between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.

Inmates may purchase envelopes and writing materials through the inmate commissary service; indigent inmates may order these materials, on a routine schedule with costs being debited from their accounts.

The Detention Center has selected Securus Technologies Inc. to provide telephone services to the inmate population. Inmates who have funds in their inmate accounts have the ability to set up accounts to make telephone calls which are free of charge to the person being called. These calls must be accepted by the person being called in order to be connected. Inmates also have the ability to place collect calls which are subject to acceptance from the person being called. The public may also set up pre-paid accounts in order to accept calls from inmates at the Detention Center. These accounts can be set up by calling Securus Technologies at 1.800.844.6591 or by visiting the following website securustech.net. No Collect calls can be placed from the Detention Center to cellular telephones. Persons wishing to accept financial responsibility for inmate calls to their cellular telephones must set up an account using the information above. The Greenville County Detention Center does not accept incoming calls for inmates or deliver messages that are deemed non-emergent by Detention Center staff.

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Can I get information about how much money an inmate has in their account? Staff members are not allowed to provide this information to anyone other than the inmate.

How long does it take for an inmate to be released? Paying an inmate’s bond does not complete the release process. A judicial release must be received before the release process is initiated at the Detention Center. It is the goal of the facility to release inmates within 4 hours of receiving judicial authorization to release the inmate. Facility emergencies or other exigent circumstances may affect release times. You should call or visit the Detention Center to acquire more information about estimated release times if you are waiting for an inmate to be released.

Does an inmate remain in the same housing unit for the duration of his incarceration? Inmate housing is not permanent. An inmate’s housing unit may be changed at any time based on the needs of the facility.

How can I get information about an inmate’s release date? You must contact or visit the facility to obtain this information. You may also ask the inmate who has access to this information.

How can I get information about an inmate’s court date? You may contact the court of Jurisdiction to obtain this information.

Who do I contact regarding medical concerns for inmates? Concerned parties may contact or visit the Detention Center to inform staff of their concerns. The information will be forwarded to the Health Service Department to be addressed. Emergent matters will be afforded immediate attention. Concerns may also be emailed to detentioncenteradministrator@greenvillecounty.org

Who do I contact if I have questions/concerns regarding an inmate or services at the Detention Center? You may call or report to the Detention Center to have your issues addressed. Detention Center staff members are trained to handle matters at the lowest level possible. Staff members will contact the appropriate supervisor should the situation require a supervisor to become involved. Concerns may also be emailed to detentioncenteradministrator@greenvillecounty.org

visitation Info

Greenville County SC Detention Center – Visitation

The Greenville County Detention Center provides inmate visitation 7 days per week. Inmates are allowed to visit 2 times per week and visits are scheduled to occur in 30-minute intervals. Visits may be subject to Monitoring and Recording. Visitation types will vary based on the inmate’s housing assignment and may occur on a video monitor, via telephone receivers with visibility through glass barriers or through vented glass barriers. The following conditions apply for inmate visits:

• Inmates are allowed up to three adults on their visitors list.
• Inmates may update their visitation list once every 30 days.
• Inmates are allowed two, 30-minute visits a week; a visit may include one adult and two minor children.
• Visitors shall present a picture identification that must match the name on the inmate’s visitor’s list. Acceptable identification may include a driver's license, State ID Card, or other picture ID. A picture ID shall be surrendered and a visitors badge issued before the visitor is allowed into the facility. The badge shall be visible at all times while the visitor is inside the secure portion of the facility. When the visit is completed, the visitor shall return the visitor’s badge and their identification card shall be returned.
• Employer or attorney visits do not count against the weekly visits of an inmate.
• Visiting hours vary from housing location; if you are unsure which building the inmate is in, please contact 864.467.2330.
• Leave all items, purses, bags, etc. in your vehicle or in the public lockers.
• No cellular phone, cameras, purses, bags, tobacco products, lighters, flame producing devices, mace, chemical sprays, firearms, or weapons of any type are allowed in the facility.
• All persons, bags, parcels are subject to search by Detention Staff.
• Visitors must wear conservative clothing. Short-Shorts, miniskirts, bathing suits, halter tops, or other revealing clothing is prohibited and will prevent you from visiting.
• All visitors are required to follow the instructions of the Detention Staff.
• Providing or attempting to provide contraband, (as defined by SC Law #24-7-155), to an inmate is a felony and violators will be prosecuted.

Building One, Two and Four Visitation

• Inmates housed in Building One, Two and Four, receive their scheduled visitation on a "First Come, First Serve" basis. The specific times shall be dictated by an inmate’s classification, status, housing area, and level of privileges, etc.
• Only authorized visitors are allowed to schedule an appointment in person on the day of visiting. Visits may be scheduled every 30 minutes prior to the visitation time.
• Visitors must check in with the Administrative Support Specialist at the respective building’s public lobby. Building Four visitors must report to the lobby of Building Two. You must be an approved visitor, have picture identification and the inmate has not already had two, 30-minute visits for the week. This applies to normal family-type visits; not to minister, employee, professional, special or other visits of this sort.

Building Four Visiting Hours

The Building Four Video Visitation Office, located in the Public Lobby of Building Two, is open from 8:00a.m. – 6:00p.m., 7 days a week. Visits will be available on a "First come, first serve" basis. Visits will commence upon your arrival at the facility without having to wait for a designated appointment time.

The following housing units are located in Building Four: SHU A-D, Unit 2A, Unit 2B, Unit 3A, Unit 3B, Unit 4A and Unit 4B.

Should the visitation booths in an inmate’s housing unit be occupied or if you arrive during a meal period, you will be asked to wait until a booth becomes available or the meal period in the housing has concluded. This wait shall never be longer than 30 minutes.

Restricted Hours for Attorneys, Bondsmen, Outside Agencies

Excluding court appearances, requests to sign out or to interview inmates shall not be honored during meal hours, which are:

• Breakfast: 0530 – 0700 hours
• Lunch: 1100 – 1230 hours
• Supper: 1600 – 1730 hours

Excluding court appearances, requests to sign out or to interview inmates shall not be honored during institutional counts, recounts, or headcounts. Regular counts begin at:

• 0700 hours
• 1500 hours
• 2200 hours

Professional Visitation

The following individuals may schedule professional visits with inmates at the Detention Center:

1. Attorneys or Lawyers.
2. Probation and parole agents.
3. Law enforcement officers.
4. Social service agencies, with the Jail Administrator's or designee's approval only.
5. Any other professional requesting to interview inmates. Some may need approval from the Jail Administrator or designee prior to being allowed to visit.

Professional visits may be scheduled in person at the Detention Center, by telephone at (864) 467-2370 or via email at detprov@greenvillecounty.org. Normal business hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. Some exceptions may be made depending on circumstances. Attorney's needing to visit during restricted times, must contact the Professional Visitation Clerk 30 minutes prior to the restricted time and the inmate will be made available. Requests for visits during non-business hours may be made in advance through the Professional Visitation Clerk or by telephone at (864) 467-2300.

Minister Visits

1. Ministers may visit with inmates during the normal operating hours of Reception Control, Main Control and Video Visitation Control, Monday through Sunday. These visits are non-contact visits and are dependent on available slots during the requested time.
2. If the Building Two inmate visiting room is in use during these hours, Ministers may visit in the Building One main lobby visiting room. Ministers may also utilize the Building One main lobby visiting room when Video Visitation Control is fully occupied or closed.
3. On the first minister visit, persons identifying themselves as Clergy must present a Clergy ID card or other documentation signifying clergy (i.e. Business Card, Church Bulletin, and/or Certificate of Ordination) if requesting to visit an inmate. The Clergy ID card or other documentation signifying clergy (i.e. Business Card, Church Bulletin, and/or Certificate of Ordination) shall be valid, and leave no doubt that the person presenting the documentation is from the Clergy. A pictured ID shall also be presented. Ministers are required to obtain an inmate visitor’s badge in exchange for a picture ID card to visit an inmate in Building One.
4. Ministers should be allowed to visit for a reasonable time. However, their visits shall not conflict with other GCDC visiting policies, such as separation of adult and male and female inmates. The Watch Commander may approve a minister's visit at any other time in the event of an emergency involving death or life-threatening illness of an inmate's immediate family member.
5. At the conclusion of a minister’s first visit, the Clergy must be given an Application for Ministerial Visitation Approval Form to be completed and returned to the Detention Center. Completed applications are to be given to the Support Services Sergeant or Lieutenant. Once an application is received, the minister will be notified of the approval/denial in writing within 10 days. An approved ministers list will be maintained in Reception Control for reference. All approved ministers will only need to present their picture ID to receive future visits.
6. Ministers that are relatives of inmates will be allowed only one minister visit. Following this visit, the inmate will be required to place the relative on their regular visitation list to receive additional visits.

Can I visit an inmate who is housed in the Special Housing Unit (SHU)?  When an inmate is housed in the Special Housing Unit for disciplinary reasons some activities are suspended. The inmate will be eligible for visitation on the 7th day after he was received in the Special Housing Unit.